Memphis-based hospital system lays off 23

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A health care system based in Memphis has laid off 23 managers.

Baptist Memorial Health Care says the cuts were across its 14-hospital system and included managerial layoffs in pathology, cardiac rehabilitation and cardiac catheterization.

Baptist spokeswoman Ayoka Pond told The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/17RBXnH) on Thursday that the employees who were laid off can apply for other positions in the system and will receive job-placement help.

The system’s flagship hospital in Memphis has about 3,000 employees, including 200 managers. About 14,000 people work for Baptist system-wide.

Pond said hospitals are struggling with issues that include people deferring elective procedures, declining government reimbursements, increasing demand for “unreimbursed” care, and employers moving employees into higher deductible health insurance plans.